WILLIAMSPORT, Md. — Leading by just three points in the later stages of Friday's third quarter, the Greencastle-Antrim boys basketball team's attempt at defending its Richard E. Doub Classic title from a season ago appeared to be in jeopardy against opening-night opponent Broadfording Christian Academy.

As it turned out, the Blue Devils just needed the better part of three quarters to flip the switch.

Clinging to a 45-42 advantage, G-A officially hit its stride, ripping off a decisive 23-5 scoring run to lead by as many as 21 points midway through the fourth en route to an eventual 75-63 victory at Williamsport High School.

With the win, the Blue Devils (6-2) advance to play host Williamsport — who beat Mountain Ridge in Friday's nightcap — for the tournament championship tonight at 7 p.m., weather permitting.

"Our kids really picked up the intensity late in the game," G-A head coach Gary Martin said. "I thought we were a little sluggish in the first half, even though we were able to maintain a lead. Then down the stretch, we got going and managed to turn a three-point lead into a 20-point lead which gave us the win."

Considering a week has passed since last taking the floor, G-A's Joel Zola wasted little time getting reacquainted with the bottom of the net.

Coming off a career-best 35-point performance in last Friday's overtime victory against Shippensburg, Zola immediately resumed his impressive start to the season, scoring 12 of his game-high 27 points in first quarter, granting G-A an early 22-15 lead.

The sides continued exchanging buckets in the second, with Broadfording's Mo Sallah netting eight points in the quarter to keep the Lions well within striking distance entering the half, trailing by only four at 35-31.

Broadfording's charge carried into the third, when a 3-pointer from Isaiah Daniels cut the deficit to 45-42 with less than two minutes remaining in the frame.

Needing to reclaim the momentum, a bucket from Zola followed by Holden Baker's third 3 of the game essentially jump-started G-A's convincing sprint to the finish, sending the Blue Devils into the fourth up by eight at 50-42.

The margin quickly reached double digits, with the trio of Baker, Austin Scott and Danny Stepler each knocking down a pair from the free throw line before a Matt Montedoro lay-in pushed G-A's lead to 20 with four minutes remaining in regulation.

Now in control, the Blue Devils focused on time of possession, with the Lions frequently electing to foul in order to keep hope alive.

Casually, G-A's Sam Sprague buried five of his six attempts from the charity stripe in the final 2:20, maintaining a healthy advantage while ultimately sealing the victory.

Both Zach Faulkner and Baker joined Zola in double figures, as Faulkner finished with 13 points followed by 12 from Baker.

"Hopefully tomorrow night we can start like we finished," Martin said. "We need to come in and play the way we are capable for 32 minutes. If we do that, I like our chances at repeating as tournament champions."